One key element of Kantian ethics is the idea that the moral worth of any action relies entirely on the motivation of the agent: human behaviour cannot be said good or bad in light of the consequences it generates, but only with regard to what moved the agent to act in that particular way. Kant introduces the key concept of duty to clarify the rationale underpinning of his moral theory, by analysing different types of motivation. First of all, individuals commit actions that are really undertaken for the sake of duty itself, which is, done because the agent thinks they are the right thing to do. No consideration of purpose of the action matters, but only whether the action respects a universal moral law. Another form of action (motivation) originates from immediate inclination: Everyone has some inclinations, such as to preserve one's life, or to preserve honour. These are also duties that have worth in their own sake. But acting according to the maxim that these inclinations might suggest, such as taking care of one's own health - lacks for Kant true moral worth. For example, a charitable person who donates some goods to poor people might do it following her inclination to help the others - that is, because she enjoys helping the others. Kant does not consider it as moral motivation, even if the action is in conformity with duty. The person acting from duty would in fact do it to the other because she recognizes that helping the others is her moral obligation. Final type of motivation suggested by Kant include actions that can be done in conformity with duty, yet are not done from duty, but rather as a mean to some further end. In order to illustrate this type of motivation, Kant provides the following example. A shopkeeper who does not overcharge the inexperienced customer and treats all customers in the same way certainly is doing the right thing - that is, acts in conformity with duty - but we cannot say for sure that he is acting in this way because he is moved by the basic principles of honesty: “It is his advantage that requires it”. Moreover, we cannot say that he is moved by an immediate inclination toward his customers since he gives no preference to one with respect to another. Therefore, concludes Kant, “his action was done neither from duty nor from immediate inclination but merely for purposes of self-interest”.
Consider the following examples:
(i) Red Cross volunteer who donates blood every year to thank an anonymous donor who saved the life of his mother some time back
(ii) A voluntary organization which conducts regular blood donation camps to improve its legitimacy. As per the passage, correct statement(s) related to the above examples would be: I. The source of motivation for both examples is same
II. Individuals may commit actions for reasons beyond duty
III. Both examples illustrate the concept of moral worth
Consider the following examples:
(i) Red Cross volunteer who donates blood every year to thank an anonymous donor who saved the life of his mother some time back
(ii) A voluntary organization which conducts regular blood donation camps to improve its legitimacy. As per the passage, correct statement(s) related to the above examples would be: I. The source of motivation for both examples is same
II. Individuals may commit actions for reasons beyond duty
III. Both examples illustrate the concept of moral worth
Show Hint
- Option I only
- Option II only
- Options I & II
- Option III only
- Options II & III
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
According to the passage, real moral worth comes only when actions are done purely out of duty, not because of gratitude, benefit, or any ulterior motive.
Step 2: Analyze example (i).
The Red Cross volunteer donates blood yearly to thank the anonymous donor who saved his mother. This is motivated by personal gratitude, not moral duty.
Step 3: Analyze example (ii).
The voluntary organization conducts blood donation camps not as a sense of duty but to enhance its own legitimacy and reputation. Again, this is a motive beyond duty.
Step 4: Match with the statements.
- I. “Source of motivation for both examples is same.” → Correct, since both are motivated by reasons beyond duty (gratitude or legitimacy). ✓
- II. “Individuals may commit actions for reasons beyond duty.” → Correct, both examples illustrate this. ✓
- III. “Both illustrate moral worth.” → Wrong, because they lack Kantian moral worth since they are not duty-driven. ✗ Step 5: Conclude.
Hence, the correct set of statements is I and II. \[ \boxed{\text{Options I & II (C)}} \]
Which of the following inferences would be against the ideas in the passage?
I. Kantian ethics considers the moral worth of an inclination on the basis of its consequence.
II. Actions motivated by the inclination of an individual lacks moral worth.
III. Elements of moral obligation reduce the moral worth of a duty, which has some worth in itself.
II. Actions motivated by the inclination of an individual lacks moral worth.
III. Elements of moral obligation reduce the moral worth of a duty, which has some worth in itself.
Show Hint
- Option I only
- Options I & II
- Options II only
- Options III only
- Options I & III
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Kant argues that acting from an inclination (gratitude, benefit, happiness) has no moral worth. Only actions performed from a sense of moral duty possess true worth.
Step 2: Examine each inference.
- I. “Kantian ethics considers the moral worth of inclination on the basis of consequence.” → This is against Kant, because he rejects consequentialism and bases moral worth on duty, not outcomes. ✗ → This is the incorrect inference.
- II. “Actions motivated by inclination lack moral worth.” → This is exactly what Kant says. ✓ Correct idea, not against passage.
- III. “Elements of moral obligation reduce the moral worth of a duty.” → Wrong, since moral obligation is the only basis of moral worth. Kant never claims it reduces worth. ✓ Correct idea, not against passage.
Step 3: Conclude.
The only inference which contradicts Kant’s philosophy is I. \[ \boxed{\text{Option I only (A)}} \]
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
From a very early age, I knew that when I grew up, I should be a writer. I had the lonely child's habit of making up stories and holding conversations with imaginary persons, and I think from the very start my literary ambitions were mixed up with the feeling of being isolated and undervalued. I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could get my own back for my failure in everyday life. I wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy endings, full of detailed descriptions and arresting similes, and also full of purple passages in which words were used partly for the sake of their sound. I give all this background information because I do not think one can assess a writer's motives without knowing something of his early development.
His subject-matter will be determined by the age he lives in — at least this is true in tumultuous, revolutionary ages like our own — but before he ever begins to write he will have acquired an emotional attitude from which he will never completely escape. It is his job to discipline his temperament, but if he escapes from his early influences altogether, he will have killed his impulse to write. I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose. They are: (i) Sheer egoism: Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood; (ii) Aesthetic enthusiasm: Desire to share an experience which one feels is valuable and ought not to be missed (iii) Historical impulse: Desire to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity (iv) Political purpose: Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other people's idea of the kind of society that they should strive after.
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